Question...is this house where you live, and thus the improvements are for personal use? If so, there is no write off of the improvements.
However, if this house is used by you for a business, you do not live there, and you have a lease, then leasehold improvements paid by you can be amortized over the course of the lease. This applies to property that you paid for and should be capitalized. If the property would be left behind when you terminate the lease, then if business property, it would be amortized either under the life of the property or the terms (including automatic renewals) of the lease. If the property would be taken with you, such business property would be depreciated by you and you would own such property.
It comes down to what are you renting the house for and the use of the house in your hands. For example, if you were renting space in a mall, strip mall, etc., etc., and you did improvements to the space. Those improvement would be leasehold improvements for a business and would be amortized over the lease or if expected to be renewed, the lease plus expected renewals.
Personal use of leasehold improvements are basically lost to you. The same as the rent can't be deducted for personal use.
**Disclaimer: Effort has been made to offer correct information; but due to the discussion forum limitations, the poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the poster's response**
